Guys, for pete's sake. They're still collecting toys at stations. This, too, shall pass. Nothing lasts out of the two week news cycle these days, and very little lasts 48 hours. End of the day, the toys are still collecting and the railroad saves money. This is getting ridiculous.

Toys being collected at the stations still need to get to the kids. That's what the train was for that has been cancelled due to the 'no charters' policy. Negative PR when they could have used some positive PR.

I can see it now in my crystal ball, some Amtrak employees go on strike, the rest of the employees will not cross the picket line, and this administration refusing to negotiate. Months pass, then years, before somebody nails the shutters shut and scraps all the rolling stock. Goodby and goodnight.

RE: Jason Abrams, a spokesman for Amtrak, said in a statement that the dining service changes already implemented along the long-distance Lake Shore Limited and Capitol Limited lines have been “well received” by riders and still allow for a hot option. “We are undertaking changes with the dining service to provide higher-quality food with a contemporary style of service,” Abrams said in a statement. “Our continued success depends on increasing customer satisfaction, improving efficiency and costs. This contemporary style of service has been well received by customers, with meals of their choice and at times they choose.”

Would like to see proof of the "well received" statement. They also promised a hot breakfast item, but I have not read a report that this has happened or what it is.

After some digging we found an interesting stat. NEC revenue passenger miles for FY 2017 were1.984M, Short distance and state were 1.92M, Long distance were 2.616 RPMs for FY 2017. Now we will try to find number of locos and cars for each service ?